
         
         
         








                                      ESIE


                       The Expert System Inference Engine


                                  User Manual

















         Lightwave Consultants                           August 1985
         P.O. Box 290539
         Tampa, FL  33617







                      Copyright 1985, All Rights Reserved.

         The ESIE distribution diskette, of which this manual is one 
         file, may be freely copied and distributed.  Printed copies 
         of this manual may also be made and distributed, as long as 
         each one is accompanied by a copy of the ESIE distribution 
         diskette.  


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                               Table of Contents 


         Introduction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3 

         What is Shareware?  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4 

         What is Artificial Intelligence?  . . . . . . . . . . . .  5 

         What is ESIE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  6

         Starting ESIE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  7

         The ESIE Top Level  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8

         Paying For and Obtaining the Next Version of ESIE . . . .  9




































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                                  Introduction 

                  
         This manual is intended for the end user of a knowledge base 
         (KB) created by a knowledge engineer (KE).  The end user need 
         have no familiarity with Artificial Intelligence (AI) or 
         expert systems in order to use and benefit from ESIE. 

         ESIE (pronounced "easy") is the acronym for Expert System 
         Inference Engine.  ESIE is an "expert system shell." 

         Your computer, or data processing (DP), department should 
         have made sure you received the diskette you need in order to 
         run ESIE.  ESIE may not be distributed in any form unless it 
         is a faithful duplication of the distrubution diskette.  
         Therefore, you may have some extra files on the diskette - 
         don't worry about it. 
         
         Your DP department should have checked with you to make sure 
         you have the computer equipment necessary to run ESIE, or 
         they should have installed the equipment, or ESIE, or both. 

         For those of you who may by interested in the history of 
         Artificial Intelligence, please print and read the file 
         HISTORY, which gives a short history of Artificial 
         Intelligence.  If you are interested in learning a bit about 
         AI, print and read the file TUTOR.  If you want to "do" some 
         AI, then print and read the file MANUAL, which describes how 
         to use ESIE. 
         
         I assume that you have no experience in AI whatsoever, but I 
         further assume that you have done some work, or at least some 
         reading, in the operation of your computer.  Neither this 
         manual, nor any file distributed with ESIE, will try to 
         educate you concerning your equipment.  However, operation of 
         ESIE is very straightforward and you need only know the 
         rudimentaries (i.e. how to turn your computer on) to use the 
         ESIE system. 

         In any case, welcome to ESIE.  ESIE is my own work and I take 
         full responsibility for its abilities and its shortcomings.  
         However, I take no responsibilty for the knowledge base being 
         distributed with ESIE. 









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                               What Is Shareware? 


         Shareware is a software distribution concept.  In shareware, 
         it is believed: that people will pay for something they find 
         useful, that most software costs too much, that copy 
         protection schemes can sometimes be frustrating even to the 
         most honest user, and that software users want to support 
         software authors while not necessarily supporting the 
         software middle men.  

         Shareware is a marketing concept.  The term was probably 
         originally coined by Bob Wallace of Quicksoft, Inc.  Mr. 
         Wallace wrote PC-Write (c), a shareware full-feature text 
         editor.  I personally like PC-Write and prefer it as my own 
         editor.  I believe you will find PC-Write useful and to that 
         end I will send you a copy of it if you "pay" for ESIE at the 
         $145 level.  Many of the Shareware ideas in ESIE come 
         directly from PC-Write(c) and I offer my public thanks. 

         ESIE is distributed under the Shareware concept.  You receive 
         the software first, from whatever source that may be, and pay 
         only what you think the software is worth.  You are free, and 
         encouraged, to share copies of the distribution diskette with 
         others. 

         ESIE is marketed under the shareware concept.  I prefer to 
         think of ESIE as living software: software that continues to 
         develop and get better, more powerful.  I believe ESIE is a 
         useful tool as it is, but can be improved.  However, support 
         for living software must come from somebody.  Even we 
         software authors and AI researchers can't live on discovery 
         and love alone.  In shareware this support comes from you - 
         the user. 

         If you feel that ESIE is useful to you, send what your 
         conscience dictates.  ESIE is paid for on the honor system.  
         However, if you send at least $75 you will receive the most 
         recent version of ESIE, free.  If you send at least $145 you 
         will receive: the most recent version of ESIE, fully  
         commented source code for ESIE (ESIE was written in Pascal), 
         my sincere thanks for your support, a copy of PC-Write (c) - 
         a shareware full-feature text editor fully compatible with 
         ESIE, and access to a help line, all free. 

         Your comments towards ESIE are solicited even if you do not 
         desire support.  For this, please print and fill out the file 
         FORM and send it in.  Mail and money for ESIE can be sent to: 
         Lightwave Consultants; P.O. Box 290539; Tampa, FL 33617. 



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                        What is Artificial Intelligence? 


         There is an excellent question.  Even those of us working in 
         the field have a tough time coming up with a definition for 
         AI.  The topic often receives some rather hairy debate when 
         brought up.
         
         In general, however, Artificial Intelligence is any activity 
         that a computer does that is human-like.  For example, 
         machine vision is considered AI, and even though we normally 
         do not associate the act of viewing objects with the 
         intelligence required to process that mental image, humans do 
         use a lot of mental energy to process what we are seeing. 






































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                                 What Is ESIE? 


         ESIE is the acronym for Expert System Inference Engine, and 
         that is exactly what it is.  ESIE loads in a knowledge base, 
         and builds inferences out of the rules contained therein, to 
         act like an advisor.  It is an Artificial Intelligence expert 
         system shell.  An infinite multitude of knowledge bases can 
         be used by ESIE. 

         What is an expert system shell (ESS)?  ESSs are used to take 
         the rules coded in the knowledge base and use these rules in 
         a consulting session with a person.  The person using the ESS 
         with the KB to help him reach a decision is called the user 
         (that's you).  The coding of the rules into the KB is done by 
         someone called the knowledge engineer. 

         The normal gamut of expert systems (ES) can be built for and 
         used by ESIE.  Tools such as computer system configurators, 
         medical experts, oil and gas exploration, etc, can all be 
         done in ESIE.  

         The acronym was also selected because ESIE is easy to use.  
         ESIE has been fully tested and checked out, and since it was 
         written in Pascal, it should hold you in good stead.

         ESIE is very inexpensive and rivals many ESSs in power and it 
         beats nearly all in speed.  Also, for markets, ESIE is 
         uniquely fitted.  Knowledge based inference engines have a 
         rather small market at present, but that soon may change.  I 
         hope the advent of low cost and readily available software 
         might help the spread and acceptance of AI. 




















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                                 Starting ESIE 


         Getting ESIE fired up will probably be one of the easiest 
         things you do today.  The only two files you need in the 
         computer to use ESIE are the ESIE.COM file and the file where 
         the KB is.  Of course, you may have as many files out there 
         as you wish.  ESIE will run in any drive and directory, 
         including hard disks, as long as the ESIE.COM and KB files 
         are present. 

         When you have at least the above two files where you want 
         them, simply type in ESIE at the DOS prompt.  The ESIE 
         introductory screen will appear.  It contains information 
         about the Shareware concept and some benefits you will get if 
         you pay for your copy of ESIE. 

         At the top of the introductory screen is a prompt asking you 
         to supply the file name where the knowledge base may be 
         found.  Type in the name of the file given you by the DP 
         department.  If that file exists, then ESIE will attempt to 
         load it.  If the file does not exist, then ESIE will ask you 
         if you want to try again.  A "Y" or a "N" will answer this 
         prompt. 
         
         Assuming that the file exists, ESIE will attempt to load.  If 
         no loading errors are found, then ESIE will take you to the 
         top level. If there are errors in loading the KB, then ESIE 
         will list where it found the errors and return you to DOS. 
         
         ESIE loads files faster than most, if not all, other ESS, but 
         be patient if you are loading a very large KB, especially 
         from floppy diskette. 



















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                               The ESIE Top Level 


         You will know when you have reached the top level by the 
         distinctive ESIE prompt.  It looks like this: "==>".  At the 
         top level you have four different command options:  TRACE ON, 
         TRACE OFF, GO, and EXIT.  You only need concern yourself with 
         the GO and EXIT commands.  While you can turn trace on, it 
         will slow down execution.

         As you type commands in, remember that ESIE is case 
         insensitive.  Caps look just the same as smalls to ESIE.  
         This is also true when you answer questions put to you by 
         ESIE.  You can even mix case if you like, as ESIE is case 
         insensitive everywhere.  I like this feature. 

         If you do turn trace on, you can turn the trace back off 
         again by entering the TRACE OFF command. 

         The GO command is the command to tell ESIE to begin a 
         consultation with the KB that was loaded before.  ESIE will 
         continue with this consultation until it is complete or until 
         an error is found in the logic of the KB.  You may not turn 
         trace on or off once a consultation has begun.  If you type 
         in TRACE ON, TRACE OFF, GO or EXIT in response to a question, 
         then ESIE will treat that as the response to the question. 

         Once ESIE has completed the consultation, or found an error 
         in the logic of the KB, it will return you to the top level 
         for additional commands. 

         Use the EXIT command in order to leave ESIE and return to 
         DOS.  After a consultation is complete, you have the option 
         of entering ANY of the four commands, including GO, again. 
         

















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               Paying For and Obtaining the Next Version of ESIE 
                                                          
         
         Now comes the part we all hate to discuss.  What is ESIE 
         going to cost?  Well, that is totally up to you and your DP 
         department.  There is a possibility that your DP department 
         has already paid for ESIE and therefore has access to all the 
         support you might need.  If they have not, or you would like 
         support for yourself, (including a help line), feel free to 
         pay for your copy of ESIE. 
         
         I happen to be one of those people that believe that most 
         people are honest and will pay for something they find 
         useful.  I also believe that most software costs too much, 
         and that all AI software costs way too much.  I dislike copy 
         protection schemes and there are none in ESIE. And I believe 
         that you will want to see ESIE grow and be supported. 
         
         If you send at least $75 you will receive the most recent 
         version of ESIE, free.  If you send at least $145 you will 
         receive: the most recent version of ESIE, fully  commented 
         source code for ESIE (ESIE was written in Pascal), my sincere 
         thanks for your support, a copy of PC-Write (c) - a shareware 
         full-feature text editor fully compatible with ESIE, and 
         access to a help line, all free. 
         
         Regardless of how you feel towards ESIE, I ask that you print 
         and fill out the file FORM so that I may keep improving ESIE. 
         
         I think of ESIE as living software: software that continues 
         to develop and get better, more powerful.  I believe ESIE is 
         a useful tool as it is, but can be improved.  However, 
         support for living software must come from somebody.  Even we 
         software authors and AI researchers can't live on discovery 
         and love alone.  In shareware this support comes from you - 
         the user. 

         Mail and money for ESIE can be sent to: Lightwave Consultants; 
         P.O. Box 290539; Tampa, FL 33617. 













